Music festival heats up Houston

Darius Fant, left, a band director at Tupelo High School, keeps the beat as Jermaine Morgan, plays bass, at the 2013 Chickasaw County Instrumental Music Festival. Last year’s performance at Joe Brigance Park drew talent from across Northeast Mississippi to the inaugural event.(Photo by Floyd Ingram)

HOUSTON – We would call it the hottest music ticket in Northeast Mississippi this weekend, but it’s free.

Houston will host the Chickasaw County Instrumental Music Festival Friday and Saturday with a list of top-notch instrumentalist and vocal performers set to hit the stage at Joe Brigance Park Friday night and Saturday morning.

Event organizer and Houston native Jermaine Morgan said the festival will showcase instrumental music but the goal is to expose the community to quality musicians and spark an interest in learning to play an instrument.

“Most of the youth have little or no interest at all in playing an instrument or pursuing a musical career, due to the fact that they don’t view it as being successful in the South,” said Morgan. “With this festival we hope to begin to change that outlook on music.”

Morgan said the festival will bring in a number of instrumental masters.

“We hope to develop a deeper appreciation for music and the dedication that it takes to master an instrument,” said Morgan. “Studies have shown that youth who are involved in music typically perform better in school. The discipline of music helps youth throughout their life, even if they don’t fully pursue music as career.”

The music starts at 6 p.m. Friday on the Main Stage at Joe Brigance Park. It cranks back up at 9 a.m. Saturday and closes out about 1 p.m.

Vendors will be on site to offer refreshments, t-shirts and festival snacks. Several civic clubs will also have events for kids.

Morgan said it will be a family-friendly environment and he urged attendees to bring the kids, blankets and chairs.

“CCIMF is also about bringing an awareness to the surrounding communities about health and social development,” Morgan said. “We believe that with help of God and through CCIMF we can impact a generation through music.”

Event sponsors include the City of Houston, Eddie Long, H.O.P.E, Clinton McFarland Ministries,